The first weekend of the New Year has been a particularly violent one for Essex.

Officers have rushed to at least 12 horrifying incidents over the weekend varying from vicious street brawls, to sickening stabbings and sexual assaults.

In total, there have been three large-scale brawls, four separate stabbings and a number of assaults- some of which have left lasting injuries on their victims.

The surge in violence this weekend has prompted concern from local residents.

Although some of these incidents did not happen during the weekend, all of them were first reported either yesterday or today (January 5-6).

Here's 12 of the most horrifying crimes that occurred this weekend:

Man slashed in the face outside Wetherspoons

A man was slashed in the face after a stabbing outside a Wetherspoons pub.

Police rushed to the Barking Dog pub in Station Parade, Barking, at around 9.50pm on Friday, (January 4) and set up a cordon around the pub.

The man was treated by the London Ambulance Service and officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

Barking and Dagenham Police at the time tweeted: "Police are on scene at the Barking Dog Public House, Station Parade, Barking where a male has sustained slash injuries to his face following an assault with a knife.

"He is being assessed by London Ambulance Clinicians. The suspect has been arrested.

Woman fighting for her life after 'A12 crash and assault'

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Police were called to the A12 at the Gants Hill roundabout at 6.53pm on Friday (January 4), to reports of a collision between two cars.

Officers attended and found the female driver of one of the cars, a Kia Picanto, unwell.

Officers provided first aid before paramedics from the London Ambulance Service arrived and took the 39-year-old woman to an east London hospital where she remains in a critical condition.

Police are now investigating a report that the woman was assaulted by the male driver of the second car, a Toyota Yaris, shortly after the collision.

The 54-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault. He has been taken to an east London police station where he remains in custody.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or its aftermath to call the East Area Command Unit via 101, quoting CAD 5786.

In particular, officers wish to speak with a witness who was at the scene. He is a white man and around 6ft 2ins in height.

Armed brawl with weapons breaks out on street

Armed police were called to a mass brawl involving weapons, the force confirmed.

Essex Police were contacted at 10.50pm on Friday, (January 4), following reports of a large disturbance involving weapons in Foxes Lane, Eight Ash Green, Colchester.

Pc Jed Raven, part of Colchester's local policing team (LPT) tweeted to confirm the involvement of armed police.

He said: "Busy night shift last night, number of high risk incidents attended. Two males arrested for affray at a large scale fight involving weapons assisted by Essex Police firearms support unit (FSU) with taser."

A police spokeswoman added that officers attended the scene and two men were arrested.

Two men, aged 35 and 19, both from Colchester, were arrested on suspicion of affray. Both men have since been released without charge.

Man fighting for his life after being stabbed multiple times

An air ambulance landed in a nearby field (Image: @999London)

A man is fighting for his life after being stabbed multiple times.

The incident happened on Field Road in Forest Gate at around 2.15pm on Saturday, (January 5).

Emergency services including officers from the Metropolitan Police force, paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and an air ambulance all attended the scene.

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He was rushed to hospital where he still remains in a critical condition.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and remains in police custody.

Large fight involving a number of people breaks out

A man was left with serious injuries after a large fight involving a number of people broke out on a busy street in Grays.

Officers were called to Crammavill Street, Grays at around 2pm on Saturday January 5 following reports of a fight involving a number of individuals.

On arrival, police found one man suffering from multiple injuries.

He was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

A 35-year-old man Grays was arrested on suspicious of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He has been released on bail until later this month while enquiries continue.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident and are urging any witnesses to get in touch.

DI David Browning of Grays CID said: “We know the area was extremely busy at the time and lots of people may have seen this incident and even captured footage of it on mobile phones.

“We would urge anyone who did see anything or who has footage that has not already been in contact with us to do so.”

Anyone with information can contact Grays CID on 101.

Woman sexually assaulted after New Year's Eve celebrations

Police are investigating following reports a woman was a victim of a serious sexual assault in Colchester.

The victim was walking home from New Year’s Eve celebrations along Berechurch Hall Road, opposite Lethe Grove, when she was approached by a man.

The suspect dragged the woman into the nearby wooded area, which is opposite Lethe Grove and lies adjacent to Thomas Benold Walk, where she was sexually assaulted. The attack happened at around 1.40am on Tuesday January 1.

The victim is being supported by specialist officers. Detectives would like to hear from anyone in the Berechurch Road or Lethe Grove areas at the time of the incident who may have witnessed a man acting suspiciously.

“Many people would have potentially been walking home through these areas in the early hours of New Year’s Day, we would urge them to think back - did you notice anyone acting suspiciously in the moments leading up to the attack, or did you see or hear anything that could help us?

“We would like to reassure the community that, whilst incidents such as this are rare, where they do happen they are robustly investigated by specialist detectives.

“We have a dedicated team of detectives working around the clock on this investigation.”

The suspect is described as bald, clean shaven and or large build.

Anyone with information can contact Essex Police on 101.

Braintree town centre stabbing

The scene in Market Place (Image: Twitter)

Four men were arrested following a mass brawl and stabbing in Braintree town centre which left the victim with life-changing injuries.

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Officers were patrolling in Braintree town centre on Saturday, January 5 when they were called to the incident in Market Place at around 5.20pm.

Police found a man suffering from serious stab wounds to his hand.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and his injuries are described as life-changing.

Footage of the incident was circulated online with some witnesses claiming that fighting had continued in the town centre over the subsequent two hours.

In a statement yesterday (January 5), Essex Police confirmed that a man had been stabbed and three people were arrested on suspicion of affray.

Today, (January 6), the force confirmed that they arrested a fourth man.

The four men – aged 51, 50, 22 and 19 – who were all arrested on suspicion of affray remain in custody.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident and are asking any witnesses to get in touch.

Braintree Local Policing Inspector Mark Cadd said: “We understand the community are rightly concerned about this incident and we would like to reassure them.

“When we received these reports our officers were already out patrolling in the town, as they usually are, meaning they were able to reach the scene within minutes, treat the victim and apprehend the suspects. Our patrols of the town centre are continuing today.

“We know the town centre was extremely busy at the time of the incident. A number of people will have seen this incident and we also know that a number of people filmed it on mobiles and that footage has subsequently appeared on social media.

“If you saw the incident or captured footage of it and have not already spoken to us then we would urge you to do so.”

Anyone with information or footage can contact Essex Police on 101.

Man suffers serious head injuries during attack

Police are appealing for information following after a man suffered serious head injuries during an attack at Festival Leisure Park, otherwise known as Bas Vegas.

Officers were contacted at around 4.15am on Sunday January 6 following reports of an incident at the Festival Leisure Park.

During the incident a 23-year-old man suffered serious head injuries. The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.

Officers would like to hear from anyone at the Festival Leisure Park at the time who may have witnessed the incident.

An 18-year-old man from Basildon has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. He remains in custody.

Anyone with information can contact Basildon CID on 101.

Victim assaulted in men's toilets

Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault in a men's toilets which left a man with serious injuries.

The 23-year-old victim was assaulted by another man in the men’s toilets at The Dorrington hotel and bar in Trinity Street, Halstead, sometime between 9.30pm and 10pm on Thursday, December 27.

It is being treated as an isolated incident.

The victim was taken to hospital with broken vertebrae and broken ribs. He also suffered an injury to his lip that will need surgery.

Enquiries remain ongoing and police are keen to speak to anyone who was in the venue and saw what happened.